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First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams - Literature - Nairaland

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First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by risenwilliams: 3:12pm On Aug 19, 2016
Hello guys/ladies, I will posting some chapters of my new book titled "first semester" here.

The full book is now available on Amazon kindle website... Just follow this link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01KOVPMO8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472254330&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=first+semester&dpPl=1&dpID=51kLEwtEztL&ref=plSrch
Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by okwypascal: 5:34pm On Aug 19, 2016
Risen I dey ur back. But on 1 condition which is the romantic nature of the story

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Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by detutu1: 9:18pm On Aug 19, 2016
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Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by risenwilliams: 5:38pm On Aug 20, 2016
okwypascal:
Risen I dey ur back. But on 1 condition which is the romantic nature of the story

Thks boss...I appreciate
Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by risenwilliams: 5:53pm On Aug 20, 2016
TITLE: FIRST SEMESTER
AUTHOR: RISEN WILLIAMS

All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be replicated and copied without written permission.

And please gents/ladies, this is my first book, I mean "first book" so honest constructive criticisms is allowed. Please no insults oh...Abeg make Una nor kill my writing career oh..

CHAPTER 1

Mike stood facing the huge steel gate of the Edoma state university. Finally he was a university student. Here was a place where he was free to make his own decisions and live by his own rules, with no one telling him what to and what not to do. But Mike Osagie had always been free. He had been raised in a good and upright way. His parents though guiding him, had always let him make his own decisions. So he knew from a tender age the consequences of every decision he took.
Mike could hear his mother’s voice in his head, saying “make sure you pray every morning and read your books too oh, you know what took you to the university; so make your books your priority oh!”
His mother Mrs. Ejomafuvwe Osagie was a hardworking, devout Christian who never joked with her religion. A native of Isoko, in Delta state of Nigeria. She had met and married Mike’s father in Warri, delta state.
Mike’s father Osagie Ironsele was not home when he left for the university that morning. He had gone to work, but had made sure Mike had everything he needed, or at least as much as he could provide. Osagie was a strict man, God-fearing and kind. He was hard working and never liked lazy people. Born into a large extended family of over twenty four siblings, his father, Mike’s grandfather was a renowned witch doctor, who wanted all his children to serve his idols. But Osagie and some of his siblings had resisted, because of their resistance they were not catered for and had to struggle for themselves. Osagie had left home early in his life to Lagos, a city known for his numerous opportunities and greener pastures. He stayed with an uncle and learnt welding from a roadside welder. After three years he mastered the skill and was pretty good at it. He decided to relocate to Warri in Delta state of Nigeria, where there was more opportunity in the welding and fabrication industry. He later met mike’s mother there and tied the knot. After the marriage he decided to settle down in Warri.
“Well, here I am! Edoma state university.” Mike announced to himself as he walked in through the huge gates. As he had expected the environment was neat and beautiful. Mahogany, Iroko and Obeche were the major trees that escorted the sidewalks, were a dual lane road separated by beautiful flowers neatly trimmed followed. There was a bus stop to the right boasting of old rickety cars with middle aged men shouting and arguing on the top of their voices, probably about Nigerian politics. Mike had never been a fan of politics, but the just concluded presidential election and switch over from the dominant party EPC, which had been in power for almost two decade to the NLD party had garnered much debate and issues to talk about, that Mike and even most young people who were mostly concerned with hip hop and soccer were seen in most places fighting and arguing over political matters.
The loud horn of the school bus popularly called Ariwo bus named after the state governor who had donated it, reminded Mike to use the walk lane again. The environment was quiet and students were few. School was already in session, but majority of the old students were still enjoying the Christmas holiday at home. Some old students resume as far as the fourth week of resumption and some even a month to exams.
The creaking of bags and boxes dragged along the tarred road by neatly overdressed students was a funny and intriguing sight to see. These were mostly Freshers. Some came with special cabs or personal cars, with flat screen TVs, refrigerators, home theater system fit for a whole family, satellite cables and gigantic beds. Made Mike wondered if they came to school to stay forever.
The walk down to the main school was far and mike was already hungry when he sighted the first building, but his excitement alone was food for him. He was curious to get to his department, meet his fellow course mates and if possible take lectures in the giant lecture room as he had imagined. He kept walking, there were old sign boards along the road pointing out the various faculties and departments but he could not find the sign board for the department of computer science. He resolved to ask someone. A black short boy, with giant tribal marks like dog claws on his face approached.
“Good morning” mike greeted.
“Good afternoon” the boy replied.
In his excitement and curiosity he had forgotten it was past noon.
“Am sorry, good morning.”
He smiled and corrected.
“Yes, any thing?” the boy asked impatiently.
“Please where can I find the department of computer science?” Mike asked him, trying not to gawk at the huge marks. “God! They were long.” he thought.
“Oh you mean computer science?” the boy replied looking around.
“No, banking science!” Mike replied in his mind fighting a grin.
“Yes computer science.” He answered.
“Alright go through that road,” he said pointing. “Then turn right, there is a signboard there which says faculty of natural sciences, just walk in and ask anyone you see for computer science department.”
“Thank you” Mike said, already sprint walking down the road.
He went as he was directed and saw the sign but the buildings he saw around him were rather disappointing, he had imagined the university would possess giant structures like the one he had seen on the website. But all he could see here were low buildings like the hostel were he lived off campus, they serve as faculty and departmental offices. They had little windows where air struggled through. They were mostly painted red, but the paint had faded and it was now dirty brown. Ancient Panasonic ACs could be seen outside running water constantly like a tap. If he had one at home, he wouldn’t bother buying water again. He thought. He looked around again, and noticed just two beautiful buildings in sight. He was more disappointed than when he applied to study electrical engineering at the Federal University of technology Akure two years ago and wasn’t accepted.
“So much to boast about” he thought aloud.
“Well in as much as I get taught properly, the buildings don’t really matter.” He said trying to console himself.
In a few minutes he was at the department. Two girls seated on the corridors were busy with their mobile phones, giggling to themselves. Maybe they just got on Instagram. Mike thought, because he heard one saying “play those Johnny videos again”. The other persons mike saw at the department beside the two girls were two boys. They looked calm and quiet. Studying some papers pinned to the notice board. He suspected they were Freshers too, and guessed they were also in his department. Mike walked up to them as they turned to him. It was awkward, he hated being gawked at. As he approached, he studied them, a thing he normally did when he approached people, instead of staring back eye to eye. The shorter of the two wore a sky blue polo on black jeans, he wore brown leather sandals. Black shoes would have gone well with that jean. Mike thought. The other boy, a little bit taller, was wearing a short sleeve shirt on a black trouser. He tucked the shirt neatly and carried a small leather bag like a brief case. Mike thought he looked nerdy.
The shorter of the two was called Sola and the other was Ose, as He later found out. And he was right they were in the same department.
“Well, so what’s up?” Mike asked, after the brief introduction.
“Nothing much.” they both seem to chorus.
“I just got into town today, and was hoping to check out the school, for any little bit of information I can get.” Mike said again. “So, any info?”
“Well nothing much, but I saw a school timetable on the notice board at the faculty, was thinking of writing it. Or what do you guys think?” Ose asked looking at Mike and Sola.
“Of course, we should do that.” Sola replied rather surprised.

Contd...
Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by risenwilliams: 6:06pm On Aug 20, 2016
Chapter 1 Contd...


A little crowd was gathered around the notice board, when they arrived. Some students were trying to write down the timetable, some were inspecting it, why the other few were focused on a slim fair boy who was trying to say something. He waved and demonstrated a little too much, as if dancing to the popular “Shoki dance.”
“This timetable is still undergoing correction.” Mike heard him say, as they got closer.
“What’s ALT?” a chubby boy, struggling with a huge bag, bigger than the entire luggage mike came to school with asked.
“What was in that bag? certainly not just books. A human could fit there.” mike thought.
“Well, that should mean ‘Agip learning theater’ the boy replied confidently, with too much smile. He certainly was trying too hard to please some of the freshers, especially the two cute, innocent looking girls to mike’s right, who were listening attentively to him.
“And my name is Friday Itighe, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to call me, this is my number.” He smiled as he wrote his number on a piece of paper on the notice board.
“And I would be running for PRO in forthcoming SUG election…..”
“Hmmmmm… No wonder! Sola said turning to Mike. “I was wondering who this guy was, and why he was trying to help us. He is actually campaigning.”
“Both politics and girl-litics.” Ose added with a wild grin.
“Of course nah! This is a Nigerian university, nothing goes for nothing.” Mike said.
They quickly wrote the timetable and headed out for some sight seeing.
“I think we should familiarize ourselves with the various venues where we’ll be receiving lectures” Ose had suggested.
“That’s a great idea! Let’s start with the one called ALT.” mike added. “According to the timetable we will be receiving general studies there.”
“Ok. Let’s ask that guy over there” replied Ose.
“Hey! Bro, good afternoon”
“Afternoon,” the student replied.
“Please where is the ALT located?” mike asked.
“ALT… ALT...ALT...” the boy said murmuring to himself. He looked up dazed, as if trying to remember something.
“Hmmmm, I don’t know oh! Maybe you should ask that guy over there. He is in three hundred levels. Am just a fresher.” He finally said after almost a minute and walked away. Mike could have pounced on him, maybe deliver a solid blow to the face, or a knock on that giant head of his, but smiled when he saw Ose and Sola laughing.
“God Bless Nigeria,” Sola finally said after a good laugh. “So that guy is a fresher self!”
“Can you imagine?” mike added still smiling.
They walked up to the other student. He looked rather calm and matured, with huge side beards and a sinister goatee. He should be in his thirties mike assumed struggling not to laugh. Mike laughed way too quickly, and that had been a major problem when he was in secondary school. When something happened and every one pretended serious, he would always be the first to break it.
“Excuse me sir! Good afternoon!” The three boys greeted.
“Afternoon” he replied looking up, at the young students.

“Please, where is the ALT located?” mike asked.
He pointed at a magnificent building not far from where they stood. Mike thanked him.
The boys walked fast to the building, as they avoided the scorching sun. There was funny rumor that the sun inside the school was hotter compared to the one outside. To some extent mike thought there were right, because the sun was indeed very hot.
The Agrip Learning Theater as it was called was big in size and had aged with grace. It was among the first buildings to be commissioned in the school. Large dusty windows and doors on opposite end ventilated it. Dirty old fans hanged down the ceiling ready to drop at any moment on innocent students. The fans barely work. The working few creaked as they struggled to turn.
The three boys walked inside the building studying the surroundings. The rows of mostly broken and worn out chairs were elevated from each other, with the previous row higher than the first, while a wide podium sat at the front facing the seats. The remains of a once installed projector screen stood close to an ancient whiteboard. Students sat in little groups discussing at various section of the hall. It was obvious that classes had not begun.
The three boys studied for a while, then went out in search of the other venues. They wanted to be familiar with the surrounding when classes finally begin. They walked on joking casually about the school while getting to know each other. They soon became close friends.
Re: First Semester. A Novel By Risen Williams by risenwilliams: 6:02pm On Aug 25, 2016
CHAPTER 2

A sharp pain in the stomach woke Mike up. He had eaten just soaked Garri with groundnut the previous night. He was already running low on provisions and foodstuff since this was his third week of resumption, so had decided not to eat the previous night, intending to save it for today. Today, being orientation day. Orientation is the official welcoming ceremony organized by the university to welcome new intakes. On this day there were taught and admonished on school rules and regulations, the various dos and don’ts of the school and on other formal issues.
Mike wanted to get to the venue on time, so as to witness every part of the ceremony. After all, as they say, it’s a once in a life time experience, unless one decides to go back to the university again after graduation.
A quick meal of the “concoction” rice as popularly known among students, which he had saved from dying the previous day, was his breakfast. It tasted funny and delicious at the same time. Funny in the sense that all the ingredient was boiled together at the same time. The rice, the oil, the onions, the pepper and salt… oh salt! He had forgotten to put salt! No wonder it tasted funny, he thought, but he ate on eagerly. It was still delicious to him anyway probably because he was hungry.
The giant slices of onion served as his meat. He chewed on them with such tenacity that if someone walked in on him, they would think he was chewing a good piece of meat. He remembered when he was at home during the Christmas holiday and regretted not eating enough meat. They usually shy away from meat and rice, because they were in surplus then. Now here in school, a student who could boast of a pot of soup with healthy pieces of meat was termed “the boss”. They usually had lots of friends, who glue to them because of the free food they get.
Mike continued eating, drenched in sweat. Occasionally he would curl his mouth and blow air to cool his lips which were red hot with chili pepper.
A quick dash to the bathroom saw him out in less than a minute. He jumped into his trouser and well ironed shirt. He glanced at the time, it was already pass nine. Switching off his power sockets and light bulbs, he called his friends. There were there already. He jammed the door and off he went.
Mike walked into the Pavilion, a large conference centre which was used for general events like orientations, matriculations and lecture seminars. He joined his friends, David and victory, who were already seated, waiting eagerly for the event to start.
“I knew there will African time. They said this event would start by nine, see! It’s already ten” Mike heard Sola say as he studied the stage, which had been beautifully decorated. It displayed different colors of neon lights. Combinations of red and blue balloons were carefully fixed on brightly colored and knotted ribbons. it represented the university’s color. A giant projector screen had been erected on one side of the podium, with a Sony projector displaying the school logo directly on it. The IT guys were seriously at work. They ran around from one end of the podium to another, constantly dragging wires, giving orders, making suggestion, and at most times just staring at their work as if admiring it. Giant speakers had been carefully placed in strategic locations around the hall, to balance the sound. A sound engineer was seriously at work trying to perfect the sound. He kept repeating “sound ti..sound ti… Sound testing…”, to the amusement of Mike and Ose.
The dean of student’s affair, Mr. Omorere Okuagbe, a short black stern looking man walked in. he looked around the hall seeing students already seated, turned to the stage, gave a few orders, picked up the microphone and apologized to students for the late start. He later promised to start the ceremony thirty minutes. He dropped the microphone and disappeared through the far end.
At exactly 11 am the ceremony kicked off. A praise and worship section was the first event. The charismatic student union, a renowned school fellowship had the honor of leading this section of the ceremony, and they did amazing well as shouts and screams were soon heard from every corner of the auditorium.
After the forty five minutes of hot praise and intense prayers, the MC of the occasion, a lecturer from the theater arts department welcomed and introduced the esteemed members of the high table to the students. Numerous titles such as professor, doctor, barrister, bishop, arch bishop and many others filled the air, and degrees such as D.D, PHD, Masters and Bsc was constantly heard and accompanied by thunderous cheers from students. The bigger and longer the titles the louder and longer the cheers and claps.
After the introduction, a brief opening speech and prayer followed from the dean of students. After which he apologized to the students on behalf of the vice chancellor, that he could not make it and instead sent a representative who was quickly introduced to the students.
A lecture on the history of the school soon followed. It was a long and rather boring lecture, which soon left its mark on the faces of the students as many could be seen dozing off, some discussing, and some playing with their mobile phones while others simply escaped through the back door.
The ever sharp and funny MC noticed the change in the atmosphere due to the now too long lecture. He quickly whispered to the lady taking the lecture to summarize and wrap up. A student comedian and some creative groups were soon invited to perform. They were very good and soon laugh, cheers and smiles could be seen on faces. Students, who had previously left, raced back in to witness this section of the ceremony. Cameras were flipped open and recordings were in progress. They would all end up on social Medias later that day.
The creative team took a break and promising to return again. That kept most of the students waiting as no one wanted to miss it. Another lecture on use of library and library resources soon followed. It was delivered by the University librarian, one Mr. Philip Eweto, a professor who had graduated from the school a long time ago. His head was gray. “He should be in his sixties” Mike thought, “and must have read a lot.” The lecture lasted for almost an hour, but was not as boring as the first lecture, as Mr. Philip was an excellent communicator and knew how to keep his audience engaged. He lectured extensively on how to use the school library and its resources, why every student should visit it and the benefits of using the library. He later talked sadly on the declining rate of library user in most university, stating clearly the reason being that the students were not properly trained and orientated in the first place on how to use a library; hence it was deemed necessary to include this lecture in this event. He took questions from the students and was loudly cheered and applauded when he ended his speech.
Yet another lecture followed titled cultism and the effects of cultism. It was taken by the dean of students himself. It was a more serious and engaging lecture. The dean talked extensively for over thirty minutes on cultism, how it was founded, their mode of operation and its effects on students. He advised and admonished the students to refrain from belonging to any of these secret cults as they stand to gain nothing from them except rustication from the university and possibly jail time when found out. He also talked on how cultism had lead to many deaths in school. Death of young and intelligent students who would have graduated to become leaders and pioneers, but they associated themselves with these cults, which ruined their lives.He later announced that there would be a renunciation ceremony organized after the school matriculation, for students who had joined prior to their coming to the University or other students who joined in the university but wanted to come out and live better lives. He was warmly cheered as he rounded up his lecture. A short sermon followed from one of the young pastor who also graduated from the school and was the founder of the Charismatic student union. He preached and talked on how to become successful students stressing that for one to be a successful student, he/she needed God in his/her life. He later gave an altar call and many students came out giving their hearts to Christ. They were loudly cheered and encouraged. He rounded up his sermon with a short prayer.
The ceremony came to an end with a speech from the vice chancellor’s representative later followed by a quick closing prayer from the dean of students. He thanked the students for coming and handed the stage over to the creative group for more entertainment. Loud cheers and shouts could be heard from the students.
Mike went home after the entertainment sections. He felt proud and happy to have witness such an event. Though some parts were quite boring, he had learnt a lot and was certainly glad he had not missed it.



Full book download at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01KOVPMO8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472254330&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=first+semester&dpPl=1&dpID=51kLEwtEztL&ref=plSrch

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